//------------------------------// // Passion for your Brethren // Story: Rise of the Wholesome // by Masterweaver //------------------------------// "When your life has no meaning, find meaning in someone else's." Statistically speaking, Chrysalis couldn't have been the only one in this situation. There were, after all, upward of six billion people on the planet, and even if only one in every million had similar views on intimacy... that was still six thousand people, who could probably coordinate over the internet, and factoring in time zones that would mean roughly, oh, let's say thirty groups just in Amareica alone? Actually that was probably an understatement. Still, having your communal support and pleasure session--Chrysalis refused to call it an orgy, as that word implied a lack of respect the members had for each other--interrupted by the psychic projection of a brand new deity rambling on about magic and mutations... that was really rather stressful. Even with the soon-thereafter calming filter locking down on most of their minds, she could almost sense all the worry and confusion seeping through the minds of the Wholesome. She had the same feelings herself, of course, as well as a good dose of existential horror. But like any good mother, she pushed it all aside for the moment; her children needed her to stay calm, collected, and soothe their fears. Which she did, in the best way she knew how. And if Thorax learned a special new way to help his boyfriend, well, that was just another lesson she taught. Only after the session drew to a close, only after the Wholesome once more swore their lives to each other, only after her closest friends helped her clean up the mess and offered to stay so she could discuss the situation, only after she asked them for time to herself to think... Only after the door was locked, the last car driven away five minutes ago, and Chrysalis sure she was alone... Only then did she look skyward, clench her fists, and start screaming. "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK YOU ALIEN TEENAGE SKANK YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST FUCK WITH THE WORLD AND WE'LL JUST SAY OH SHIT NEW PARADIGM LET'S BREAK OUT THE FUCKING BOOZE?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FUCKING DEAL WITH IN THE NEXT WEEK ALONE YOU DAMNED SUN-KISSED BITCH?! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME, YOU SUPER POWERED CUNT, I WANT A FUCKING ANSWER!" Without warning, a little post-it note appeared above her, fluttering down toward her face. She snatched it out of the air with a snarl. "...Currently busy keeping time from exploding, please hold complaints until next saturday?" Chrysalis glared at the note, hands trembling as her rage grew and grew, burning under her skin like a fire. ....actually, now it was burning on her skin like a fire. No, wait, that was just ordinary green fire--- "HOLY FUCKING SHIT I'M ON FIRE!" The great Mother of the Wholesome dropped the post-it and flailed around her house, slapping herself all over as she tried to put out the flames rapidly enveloping her body. Even as she stumbled into the kitchen, she could feel her clothes burning off; her hands fumbled across the cabinets as the rising fire consumed her entire vision, finally managing to find the miniature fire extinguisher hidden beneath the sink. In her blinded panic she pointed it at her own naked body and ripped the cap off. The impact of the pressurized mist slammed Chrysalis onto her well-toned rear end, skidding across the tile for half a foot before she stopped, coughing as she was surrounded by white poofiness. Yes, it wasn't harmful to humans, but instincts--and the punch to the gut she's just given herself--would not be subdued by simple logic. She hissed almost as loud as the canister itself as she stood, putting one hand on the counter and trying to regain her bearings. "Okay. So... cursing out our new bacon-haired overlord results in spontaneous combustion." Chrysalis coughed, waving some of the mist away from her eyes. "Well, gee, I didn't know that!" Her green eyes glowered at the ceiling, the rage building up in her again. "Good golly gosh, I hope you can forgive me, oh Shimmering one!" Then she noticed her hand was on fire again. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA you know what, no." Chrysalis reached out for the sink and turned on the faucet. "I'm a mature woman, I can handle a little... burn?" With a frown, she examined her arms. There didn't seem to be any burn marks, and... actually, the fire on her hand wasn't hurting as much. She blinked as the flames seemed to recede on their own, vanishing with a small puff. The water from the sink and the hissing from the lost extingusher were the only sounds in the kitchen for a few seconds. "OH WHAT THE FUCK. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS BULLSHIT?!" And instantly her hand was on fire again. "What, do I burst into fire when I fucking swear?!" Chrysalis groaned. "Of course Sunset's a puritan with untainted ears! And I guess good golly gosh is a horrible set of words over in your ponyland, huh?" She leaned against the counter, exhausted. "Fuck." Her hand was suddenly extingushed. Chrysalis stared at it. "...Fuck," she said experimentally. "Fucking shit balls," she added after a moment. "Come on, Sunny, I'm swearing up a storm here," she demanded of the air. "Aren't you going to roast me?" There was a distinct lack of response. "Oh my fucking god," Chrysalis growled, shaking her fist at the lighting fixture. "At least be fucking consistent--!" Her fist was on fire. "...Okay. So it isn't swearing, but it happens when I swear. When do I swear? When I get... angry..." She stared at her hand for a few moments, even as it once again extinguished herself. "...Damn it. When I get angry. Of course I'd explode when I get mad." Chrysalis facepalmed, kneading her forehead like dough. "It's not Sunset, it's me. Minor physical mutations, my ass." She was going to need to go to anger management courses, again. She was going to need to meditate--and figure out how she was going to tell Spinnerette how she accidentally incinerated the dress she'd made. Oh Tartarus, the Wholesome... she had to make sure they wouldn't freak out at this, if they weren't too busy freaking out at themselves... Chrysalis slowly beat her head against her refrigerator. "I fucking hate magic."